Friday, December 7, 2018

Allen & Heath dLive Systems Bridge the Gap at Regent University

Bringing
a new level of audio control to FOH and broadcast events at both the
Regent University Communication and Performing Arts Center and Regent
University Chapel, a pair of Allen & Heath dLive mixing systems
effectively bridge the two spaces with network interconnectivity
flexible enough to support everything from small worship services to
concert level
performances.

Installed
with the help of Zack Guida of Glen Allen, Virginia-based RTW Media,
the dLive systems were delivered to Regent University’s Virginia Beach,
Virginia campus earlier this year and configured under the direction of
the private Christian university's chief audio engineer Justin Fugett.
With
seating for 970, the Regent Chapel, like the 712-seat theatre, plays
host to a busy and eclectic year-round schedule.

“Upgrading
with the dLive mixing systems has been a huge step forward for us,”
Fugett says. “We instantly expanded our network capabilities to include
MADI, Dante, and Allen and Heath’s proprietary gigaACE formats, as well
as Waves. Now we can share audio back and forth cleanly and without
problems. In the past we always had clocking issues and needed
converters. Today things are as simple as pressing a button regardless
if I’m just sending a couple of channels or a full mix between our
consoles.”

A
pair of dLive S7000 control surfaces was chosen for each space, along
with two separate DM64 MixRack processing cores. Using the Waves cards
in each location, access is provided to MultiRack SoundGrid, a software
host that lets system operators run multiple, simultaneous versions of
Waves
plug-ins.

“Each
dLive Waves card is a 128 x 128 channel interface,” Fugett explains.
“Using the insert points found within each mixing system, we have quite a
few options in terms of where we can place the Waves plug-ins at
our disposal. Being able to move them all around per channel is handy,
especially in combination with the flexible busses we’ve gained.”

Both of the
dLive systems are additionally accessible via Regent's own network.
“That,” Fugett adds, “can be a real life-saver. With students sometimes
at the helm, problems can arise. However, with dLive Director, a
multi-platform editor and control software, I can securely log on to the
university network, get into the dLive systems, and correct the
situation from any remote location. That can save the day for a student
and become a
true real-time, on-the-job learning